Receptacle cap or closure applying apparatus



R. G. CLARK.

RECEPTACLE CAP OR CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 29 1918. 1,375,364. Patented Apr. 19,1921a I 4 SHEETSHSHEET I.

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RECEPTACLE CAP 0R CLOSURE AFPLYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29.1918.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921..

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RECEFTACLE CAP 0R CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS.

APPLICAUON FLED JAN. 29,1918. l'. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A /NvEA/mf? 7?. G. CLARK By *l R. G. CLARK.

RECEPTACLE CAP 0R CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IAII.29. 191B.

'1,375,36. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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ROBERT G. CLARK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASISIGNOR TO AARON JOHNSON, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

RECEPTACLE CAP OR CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 29, 1918.

To al? whom-it ma-g/ concern:

Bc it known that I, ROBERT G. CLARK, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Receptacle Cap or Closure Applying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for applying closures or caps to'receptacles, such as bottles and the like, and it is the primary object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this character which is cheap and simple in construction and highly efficient in operation.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this character in which the closure or cap applying devices during the operation of applying the caps are actuated under the influence of a fluid pressure. In fluid pressure actuated apparatus of,t.his character as heretofore constructed the cap applying devices are entirely under the control of the fluid pressure with the result that during the initial operation of applying a cap to a receptacle the receptable is subjected to a sudden blow and pressure, and when the receptacle is made of glass as is usual such blow often crushes and fractures the receptacle. It is an object of the invention to provide fluid pressure actuated cap applying devices in which the fluid pressure is yieldingly resisted during the cap applying operation, and such means also operating to return the cap applying devices to initial inoperative position.

It is a further object of the invention to improve the general construction of fluid pressure actuated a paratus of this character to control the uid pressure medium to actuate the cap applying devices and to exhaust such pressure.

It is another object of the invention to provide receptacle capping apparatus in which a series of cap applying devices are rotatably supported and successively actuated to perform the operation of applying caps successively to a series of receptacles carried upon a platform rotatable with the cap applying devices, and to provide a'structure in which the cap applying devices and receptacle support-ing platform are adjustable one relative to the other to accommo- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 214,298.

date the apparatus to receptacles of different height or length.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means to automatically feed the caps or closures to the cap applying devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means to maintain the fluid actuating means for the cap applying devices at a predetermined pressure.

The invention 1,comprises the foregoing objects, and other objects and advantages as will hereinafter appearI from the description in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, to illustrate the supporting means for the operative parts of a receptacle closure or cap applying apparatus showing an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 vis an enlarged sectional detail view of the cap applying means proper, showing the operation of applying a cap to a'ec'eptacle and the feeding of the caps to the cap applying means.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3h53 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. -l is a sectional view taken on the line -1-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in section, of a portion of a hopper chute and showing the relation of the means to deliver a cap therefrom to the cap feeding means for the cap applying devices.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of a portion of the means for placing Vthe actuating fluid medium for the cap applying devices under pressure and showing means for automatically regulating and maintaining the actuating uid under a predetermined pressure.

Fig. 6 is a View looking at the right of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6a is a sectional detail view taken on the line (3a-6a of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail plan view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2 to show the manner of delivering a cap from the chute of a storage hopper for the caps; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the delivery chute of the hopper tol show the manner of preventing the caps from Patented Apr. 19, 1921.V

tical direction in a standard 11 by a set screw 12, and adapted to have axial adjust-1 ment by the loosening of said screw. A.

hollow shaft 13 is rotatably supported upon the shaft 10 by a shouldered end engaging with a shoulder, as at 14, formed y reducing the diameter of the upper end of the shaft 10. The lower end of the shaft 13 is supported upon the standard 11 through the medium of a ball or roller bearing by an annular member 15 having screw threaded connection with said shaft, and which member is adapted to be rotated independently of the shaft 13 by a worm wheel 16, having means for the application of a crank, meshing with teeth 17 formed on said member to longitudinally or axially adjust for a purpose to be hereinafter described The shaft 13 carries cap applying means which are Voperated in cap applying direction by Huid pressure and are normally urged to and maintained in inoperativeosition by yieldable means, which yielding means also operates to resist the movement of said cap applying means in cap applying direction by the fluid pressure. The cap applying means comprises a head 18 secured to the shaft 13, which head is common to and carries a series of circumferentially disposed cylinders, each cylinder consisting of a cylindrical chamber 19, constituting a motive chamber, and a cylindrical extension 20 of less diameter than the chamber 19, the chambers 19 being seated at one end in annular grooves in the head 18 and secured thereto by tie rods 21 passing-through a lateral Hange of the cylinder extensions 20 and threaded into the head 18. Each of the motive chambers 1.9 has a port 22 Vleading through the head 18 for the admission and exhaust of the motive fluid pressure. A piston 23 having a suitable packing 24 is reciprocable in each of the motive `chambers 19, and each piston has a. tubular member 25 to extend thro-ugh and project from the end of the cylinder extensions 20, springs 26 in the cylinder extensions 2 0 normally yieldingly urging the pistons in a direction t0- Ward the ports 22. The admission of the motive fluid pressure to the motive chambers 19 is through a port 27 in a head 28 mounted in fixed position on the shaft 10 superposed and contiguous to the head 18 and relative to which head the shaft 13 with the cylinder head 18 and cylinders is rotatable. Suitthe Vshaft, 13

beyond the beveled rial 29, 30 connected to the head 18 by dowel plns 31, said packing disks having ports to register with the ports in the head 18 for the admission andA exhaust of the motive fluid pressure to the cylinders. Similar disks 32, 33 are connected to the fixed head 28 and have ports to register with the ports 27 and 37 in said head. The head 28 is retained in position on the. shaft 10 by a'nut 35 with the port 27 connected to a source of motive Huid pressure by a pipe 36 and with which port the cylinder ports 22 of the motive chambers 19 are successively brought into communication during the rotative movement thereof. The head 28 is also connected to the source of fluid pressure supply by a pipe 38 connected to the port 37, and with which port the ports 22 of the motive chambers 19 are successively brought into communication to relieve said chambers of and exhaust the fluidy pressure therefrom, the ports of the motive chambers during the rotative movement of the latter being' alternately )laced into communication with said ports 2 37. l

The cap applying devices proper are carried by the piston extensions 25 to have movement in a direction parallel with the axis of the shaft 13, and comprise. an annular bending die 39 threaded into the end of the piston projection 25 so that an annular shoulder on said die will abut against the end of said piston extension with the internal diameter of said die of less diameter than the bore in the piston extension to form a shoulder 4() within said bore. A shouldered cap holding plunger 41 is slidably mounted in the die and piston extension sion, the reduced portion of the plunger be-l that the end will extend portion 43 of the die for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A cap carrying magazine or chute 44 is secured to each of the dies 39, as by a set screw 45, and from which magazines the caps are fed ing of such length to the cap applying devices. The magazines have an openlng or throat coaxial or concentric with tlie annular die with the portion adjacent the die of a diameter substantially the same as the outer beveled end of the die, as shown lat 4 6, and substantially of the same diameter as the outer flaring end ofthe skirt or flange of the closures or caps, and having an annular-portion 47 to constitute a supporting seat for the caps with a beveled portion 48 below the seat to serve as a guide for a receptacle during the operation of applying a closure thereto. The magazines are adapted to carry a number of ca. s and to prevent a cap following a cap w ich. is

, of movement of the caps, but normally urged to position out of the magazines by a spring 50. This detent is projected into the magazine to engage a cap adjacent the cap which is to be applied to a receptacle and during the cap applying operation by the.

engagement thereof by a nose on a rocker 51 pivotally carried by the magazines, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. These rockers constitute means to deliver caps from a. sup-ply' hopper H during the rotative movement o-f -the cap applying devices, and at a predetermined point in such rotative movement, in a. manner to be hereinafter described.

A platform 52 to hold the vreceptacles during the capping operation is rotatably supported by the framework F. The shaft 1,3 extends through said platform and the latter is connected to the shaft to rotate therewith and permit the shaft to have longitudinal movement relative to the platform. This platform has a series of inserts 53 of cushioning material in alinement with the cap applying devices to form seats for the receptacles, the receptacles being positiened on said seats and in alined relation to the cap applying devices by an annular member 54 having a series of receptacle receiving pockets 55, said member being in the nature of a turret mounted on the shaft 13 to rotate therewith and relative to which the shaft is axially movable, and connected to the table or platform by bolts 55. To permit of this rotative movement of the turret and platform with the shaft 13 and longitudinal movement of the latter relative to the turret, support for the worm 16 and platform, the turret and platform have keys 52', 16 and 53 to engage in a keyway 13 in the shaft 13, Fig. 1.

|The shaft 13 with the connected parts as well as the platform are rotated simultaneously in a suitable manner and are shown as driven through the platform from an electric motor M by a gear 57 meshing with a pinion o n the motor shaft, a bevel pinion 58 rotatable with the gear 57 meshing with a bevel pinion 59 on a shaft 60 rotatable on a vertical axis, and a pinion 61 fixed to said shaft meshing with gear teeth 62 on the platform, and the platform through its connection with the shaft 13 rotating the latter with the connected cap applying devices and the actuating means therefor.

The actuating motive fluid is delivered under pressure to the actuating means for the cap applying devices from a reservoir R, forming a part of the. supporting base for the apparatus, through the piping 36 by a pump, shown in a general Way by I and as comprising a. series of cylinders with pistons 7l having a suitable packing reciprocable therein connected to a crank or driving shaft upon which the rear 57 is mounted to be driven through said gear from the motor M. The delivery outlet 72 of the pump is connected to the piping 36 leading to the port 27 in the head 28. The motive actuatingiuid as it is exhausted from the actuating means for the `cap applying means passes through the port 37 in the head 28 and is led back to the reservoir R through thepiping 38. The inlet to the pump from the' reservoir is through a pipe 69.

In operation as the shaft 13 with the connected parts is rotated by the platform 52 from the motor the receptacles are delivered onto the receptacle seats 53 of the platform to be positioned below and in alinement with the cap applying devices, as from a table 66 rotatably mounted by a stud shaft 67 upon the framework F so that a peripheral portion thereof will overlap a portion of the platform. The table is rotated by a gear 63 fixed to the stud shaft below the framework meshing with the gear teeth 62 of the platform. The table 66 is a support for the receptacles during the filling thereof and suitable means to guide the receptacles thereon and deliver them to the platform are provided, butl as this does not constitute a part of the present invention illustration and description of the same is not deemed necessary. As stated the pistons 23 with-the connected cap applying devices are yieldingly maintained in their inoperative position and as the ports of the motive chambers 19 are brought into register with the fluid pressure inlet port 27 during the rotation of the shaft 13 the pistons are moved against the action of the springs 26, said springs tending to resist the movement of the pistons by the fluid pressure with' the result that a sudden and quick movement will not be imparted to the cap applying devices with the possibility of fracturing the receptacle to which a cap is being applied. As the cap applying means descend the receptacles will be guided to the cap seats of the magazines by the beveled portion below the cap seats, said beveled portion also serving to center the receptacles relatively to the cap applying devices.

As the cap applying devices continue to descend and the neck of the receptacle passes up through the cap seat 47 it engages the cap and lifts it from its seat when the cap is engaged and firmly held against the receptacle by the plunger 41, and during the continued movement ofthe cap applying devices the beveled portion 43 engages the cap and the reduced portion above the plunger 41 engaging within the spring 42,

the continued rotation of t abuts against a bolt which secures the piston packing 24 to the piston and thereby rmly -pressing the cap to the receptacle and the skirt or liange of the cap (usually crimped) about and below an annular bead formed on the receptacle. In this position the receptacle is moved with the platform, due to the cylinder port 22 being opposite an unported portion of the packing 33 ofthe head 28, until the port 22 comes into register with the exhaust port 37 when the tension of the spring 26 will move the piston 23 with the cap applying devices upward and exhaust the fluid pressure from the motive chamber 19. The port 37 is of considerable area, as shown in Fig. 4, permitting of the ready exhaust of the Huid pressure by the piston through the action of the spring 26. As stated to prevent the cap in the magazines adjacent a cap being applied toa receptacle from entering the cap seat in the throat of the magazines, it is held against movement by a detent 49 caused to engage the cap by the 1"engagement of said detent by a noseon a rocker 51 under the influence of a spring 85. During the return of the cap app ying devices to initial inoperative position the cap carrying magazines 44 are moved therewith and guided in such movement by a part 86 thereof slidably engaging with a rib 87 on the cylinder extension 20, said means also preventing lateral or distorting movement of the magazines. Simultaneously with the upward movement of the magazines a resilient member or spring88 carried by the rocker 5l will enga-ge with said rib 87 and swing the rocker on its pivot substantially to the position shown at the right of Fig. 2 when the cap applying devices are in their upper position, thereby releasing the rocker nose from the detent 49 which is moved by its spring 50 out of engagement with the cap to permit such cap to move by gravity to its seat 47 in the throat of the magazines concentric with a cap applying device. As the rocker 51 approaches the position indicated at the right of Fig. 2 in e cap applying devices a selector finger 91 projecting forward from the rocker 51 will engage in and pass through an opening 89 in the lateral wall of an outlet chute 90 of the hopper H with the portion of said rocker carrying said linger engaging in and passing through a slot 92 vin the hopper chute the selector finger 91 as it passes through the hopper chute opening 89 engaging a cap supported upon a 4ledge 93 (Fig. 7 retained thereon by a spring detent 94 yieldingly engaging the cap at the side adjaoentthe outlet 95 of the chute in the lateral wall oppositeto the opening 89, the movement of the selector finger moving the ca with it, such movement of the cap rea ily releasing the cap from the detent 94 to permit the cap to be '7 9 for the admission of discharged from the chute'by the selector finger. As soon as a cap is ejected from the hopper chute another cap will fall to the seat 93 and be retained thereon by the detent 94. The magazines 44 have an inlet 96 the side walls of which Hare outward, and as the cap is ejected from magazine inlet 96 will have moved to position to receive the ejected cap. The rear wall of the chute 90 at the end adjacent the opening 89 has a forwardly extending ledge 97 (Fig. 7) to prevent the movement of the caps through said opening, and said ledge has a beveled portion 9 8 to facilitate and guide the movement of the selector finger into the opening 89. As the springs 88 engage the ribs 87 and the rockersvl are moved thereby a nose 99 on said rockers passes throng an opening 100 into the magazines, and should the magazines be filled with caps to capacity with a cap opposite to the opening 100 said nose 99 will yieldingly engage with said cap preventing the movement of the rocker to position so that the selector finger 91 will be in nositin to engage in the hopper chute opening 89 to engage and eject a cap therefrom, the spring 88 readily yielding so that the rocker will assume a position to engage in front of the hopper chute during its movement past said chute, as shown at the right of Fig. 1.

To maintain the actuating f iuid delivered by the pump to the actuating means for the cap applying devices at a predetermined pressure adjustable regulating means is provided. This regulating means is connected to the delivery outlet of the pump with the pipe 36 leading to the fluid pressure inlet port 27 in the head 28, and comprises a cylinder 73 having an inlet 74 from the delivery outlet of the pump and an outlet connected by a pipe 76 with the reservoir Communication is normally shut off between said inlet 74 and outlet 75 by a valve 77 carried by or integral with a piston head 78, the valve and piston head being so arranged as to provide an annular chamber the Huid under pressure from the delivery outlet of the pump. The piston carrying valve is slidably mounted on a stein carried by a plug 8l having a screw driver slot threaded into a bore in the projection of a closure 82 for the end of the cylinder 73, and the piston is normally yieldingly seated by a spring 83 coiled about the stem 80 and confined between the plug 81 and piston. The tension of the sprlng 83 is such that it will maintain the piston in valve closing position until the fluid delivered by the pump exceeds a predetermined pressure regulated by the spring 83, or a pressure to overcome the tension of said sprin when the Vressure of said fluid entering t e chamber 79 will operate upon the piston head to move the same against the the hopper chute theV tension of the sprin the valve and opening communication between the delivery of the pump and the reservoir through the outlet 75 and pipe 76, and as soon as the pressure is reduced such communication will be shut off by the seating of the valve through the spring 83. It will be obvious that by screwing the plug 81 into and out of the bore of the extension of the cylinder closure 82 the tension of the spring and thereby the pressure with which the valve is maintained closed is increased or decreased. To permit 'of the discharge of any fluid which may leak up in back of the piston head 78 the opening in the piston head and valve through which the stem 80 passes has a series of longitudinally extending flutes 84 (Fig. 6a) to connect the cylinder above the piston with the outlet 7 5.

To accommodate the apparatus for the applying of closures or caps to receptacles of different heights or lengths, the shaft 13 with the connected cap applying devices and the actuating means therefor are adjustable relative to the platform 52, and for this purpose the shaft or column 13 carrying said parts as Well as the shaft 1() are supported to have longitudinal or axial adjustment. To make such adjustment the set screw 12 is loosened and a crank applied to the squared end of the shaft (Fig. 1) of the worm 16 and the worm rotated in the direction vto elevate or lower the shaft, the head 28 with the pipes moving therewith, and to permit of this movement of the pipes without disconnecting the same from. the source of fluid pressure and the reservoir the vertical extending portions of such piping consist of a pair of sections having a sliding connection with connecting sleeves 105, said sleeves having suitable packing therein to maintain a fluid tight joint. To maintain the outlet of the hopper chiite 90 in proper relation to tlie inlet of the magazines to the different positions to which the cap applying devices niav be adjusted with the shaft 13 the hoppeil H is supported by a bracket 106 by one of the sections of the iping 38 to have movement therewith. fter the proper adjustment has been made the set screw 12 is again tightened.

Having tlius described my invention, I claim:

1. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a revoluble receptacle support; fluid actuated plunger mechanism superposed to and rotatable with said slipport; cap applying means carried by said plunger mechanism; a fixed head contiguous to the plunger mechanism having a port connected to the source of motive actuating fluid and to which port the plunger mechavnism is connected at a` predetermined point in the movement of said mechanism; and a port in said head with which the plunger 83 thereby unseating mechanism is placed in communication during a predetermined portionY of its movement to exhaust the plunger actuating motive fluid.

2. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a cylinder having a port and a head one of which is movable on a vertical vaxis relative tothe other; a fluid actuated plunger having cap applyingmeans reciprocably carried by the cylinder; a pair of ports in the head one of which is connected to the source of motive actuating fluid and through the other of which the motive actuating fluid is exhausted, and with which ports the cylinder port alternately communicates for the purpose specified.

3. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of plunger capping means; a movable support therefor having means to carry and position a receptacle in alinement with the plunger capping means; means to normally maintain the Iplunger .capping means i n position away from the receptacle; and fluid pressure controlling means at the side of the plunger capping means opposite to the means to maintain said plunger capping means in position away from the receptacle and with which the plunger capping means 1s alternately placed in communication during the movement thereof to move the same to cap applying position and relieve the plunger capping means of said fluid pressure for the purpose specified.

4. n receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a cylinder having a port at one end; a rotatable support for the cylinder; a reciprocable piston in said cylinder carrying cap applying means by a part eX- tending from the cylinder opposite to the port; a spring to normally maintain the piston in position in the cylinder adjacent the port; and a fixed head superposed to the cylinders and having a port connected, to a source of fiuid pressure and an exhaust port and with which ports the cylinder port is alternately placed in communication during the rotary movement of the cylinder to admit the fluid pressure to the cylinder and move the piston in a direction against the action'of the spring, and to relieve the cylinder of the fiuid pressure and exhaust the same from the cylinder by the movement of the piston imparted thereto by the spring for the purpose specified.

5. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a series of cylinders each having 'a port in one end; a rotatable support for the cylinders; a reciprocable piston in each cylinder. carrying cap applying means by a part extending from the end of the "cylinders opposite to the ports; yielding means in the cylinders to normally urge the pistons in a direction toward the ports; and a fixed head superposed to the cylinders and having a port connected to a source of fluid pressure and an exhaust port normally shut off by the cylinder support and with vvhlch ports the cylinder ports are successively placed in communication during the rotation of the cylinders to alternately admlt theA Huid pressure to the cylinders and move the pistons in a direction against the action of the yielding means and to exhaust the fluid pressure from the cylinders by the movement of the pistons imparted thereto by the yielding means for the purpose speelfied.

6. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a series of cylinders each having a port in one end; a rotatable support for the cylinders; a reciprocable piston in'each cylinder carrying cap applying means by a part extending from the end-of the cylinders opposite to the ports; yielding means in the cylinders to normally urge the pistons `in a direction toward the ports; a fixed head supelposcd to the cylinders and having a port connected to a source of fluid pressure and an exhaust port normally shut off by the cylinder support and with which ports the cylinder ports are successively placed in communication during the rotation of the cylinders to alternately admit fluid under pressure to the cylinders and move the pistons in a direction against the action of the yielding means and to exhaust the fluid from the cylinders by the movement of the pistons imparted thereto by the yielding means; and means connected to the cylinder support to carry and position receptacles in alinement With the cap applying means of the pistons for the purpose specified.

7. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a cylinder having a port in one end; a movable support for said cylinderg a reciprocable piston in the cylinder carrying cap applying mea-ns by a part extending from the end of the cylinder opposite to the port; means connected to and rotatable With the cylinder support to carry and position a receptacle in alinement with said receptacle capping means; a fixed head having a port connected to a source of fluid pressure and anexhaust port, said ports b'eing normally shut off by the cylinder support and with which ports the cylinder port is successively placed in communication by the movement of the cylinder support to alternately admit fluid under pressure to and exhaust it from the cylinder; and means to adjust said cylinder with the cap applying means and head toward and away from the receptacle carrying means for the purpose specified. 4 l

S. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a movably supported cylinder having a port in one end; a reciprocable piston in said cylinder normally yieldingly urged in a direction toward the cylinder port; a tubular member carried at one end of said piston to extend from the cylinder; a cap applyin head carried at the outer end of said tubu ar member; a plunger slidable in the tubular member; means to yieldingly urge said plunger outward; and a head superposed to the cylinder and having a port connected to a source of fluid pressure with Which the cylinder port communicates during a portion of the movement of the cylinder to move the piston in cap applying direction against the action of the means to yieldingly urge the piston toward the cylinder port, and said head having a port with which the cylinder port lcommunicates during a portion of the movement thereof after the cap applying movement of the piston and through which to exhaust the fluid pressure from the cylinder for the purpose specified.

9. In receptacle cap applying means, the

combination of a movably supported cylinder having a port in one end; a reciprocable piston in said cylinder yieldingly urged in a direction toward the cylinder port and having a part extending to the exterior of the cylinder carrying capapplying means; a platform movable with the cylinder to carry a. receptacle in alinement With the cap applying means; means to move said cylinder and platform; a head superposed to the cylinder having a port connected to a source of fiuid pressure and an exhaust port and with which ports the cylinder port in the movement of the cylinder is successively placed in communication to alternately admit fiuid pressure to the cylinder to move thke piston in cap `applying direction against the means yieldingly urging the piston in the one direction and the exhaust of the fluid pressure from the cylinder; and means to adjust the cylinder With the head in a direction toward and away fromthe platform for the purpose specified.

l0. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a rotatable shaft; a. series pf circumferentially disposed cylinders having a port at one e-nd carried by said shaft; reciprocable pistons in said cylinders having a part projecting to the exterior of the cylinders carrying cap applying devices; a

head superposed to the cylmders and relative to which the cylinders are rotatable having a port connected to a source of fluid pressure and an exhaust port and with which ports the cylinder ports are successively placed into communication to alternately admit fluid pressure to and exhaust with the cap applying devlces and cylinders independently of the receptaclel carrying means for the purpose specified.

11. In receptacle capping'apparatus, the combination of a rotatable shaft; a series of circumferentially disposed cylinders having a port at one end carried bysaid shaft; reciprocable pistons in said cylinders having a part projecting to the exterior of the cylinders carrying cap applying devices; a' head relative to which the cylinders are rotatable having a port connected to a source of fluid pressure and an exhaust .port and with which ports the cylinder ports are successively placed into communication to alternately admit fluid pressure to and eX- haust the same from the cylinders toactuate the cap applying devices; a cap carrying magazine connected tp and movable with each of the 'cap applying devices having a seat concentric with said cap applying devices for a cap; a cap carrying hopper having an outlet with which the cap magazines are successively placed into communication during the rotation of the shaft to feed the caps from the hopper to the magazines; and a platform rotatable with the shaft to carry and position receptacles relative to the cap applying devices and relative to which platform the shaft with the cylinders and head are adjustable for the purpose specified.

12. In receptacle capping apparatus, a movably supported cylinder having a port; a reciprocable piston in the lcylinder having a part extending to the exterior of the cylinder and carrying means to apply a cap to a receptacle; a head superposed to the cylinder having a port connected to a source of fluid pressure and an exhaust port; means to move the cylinder to alternately place the cylinder port into communication with said ports in the head to admit fluid pressure to the cylinder and move the piston in one direction to apply a cap to a receptacle and exhaust the fluid pressure from the cylinder; and means in the cylinder to yieldingly urge the piston in the opposite direction and resist the movement 0f the piston by the fluid pressure for the purpose specified.

13. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination with a rotatable shaft, of cap applying devices carried by the shaft normally vieldingly urged to inoperative position: fluid pressure means in connection with which the cap applying devices are placed during a predetermined portion of thc rotative movement thereof to actuate said cap applying devices against the action of said'yielding means to apply a cap to a receptacle; means with which the cap applying devices are placed in communication at a predetermined point in the rotation'thereof to relieve said devices of the fluid pressure; means for regulating the actuating pressure; and a platform rotatable with the shaft to support and position receptacles relative to the cap .applying devices during the capping operation.

14. In a receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a rotatable shaft; cap applying devices carried by the shaft normally yieldinvly maintained in inoperative position; fluid pressure means in communication with which the cap applying devices are placed ata predetermined point in the rotation thereof to impart movement thereto in a direction longitudinally of the shaft against the action of said yielding means to apply a cap to a receptacle; means with which the cap applying devices are placed in communication at a predetermined point in the rotation thereof to relieve said devices of the fluid actuating pressure; means for regulating the actuating pressure; a platform rotatable with the shaft to support and position receptacles relative to the cap applying devices during the capping operation; and means to longitudinally adjust the shaft and move the cap applying devices t0- ward and away from the receptacle platform for the purpose specified.

15. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a standard; a vertical shaft adapted to be supported in fixed position and to have axial adjustment in the standard; a hollow shaft rotatable on the fixed shaft; an annular member having threaded connection with the hollow shaft and rotavtably supported on the standard; means to rotate said member independently of the hollow shaft to longitudinally adjust the latter; a receptacle carrying platform rotatable with the hollow shaft and relative to which platform the shaft is longitudinally adjustable; a cap applying means carried by the shaft to have movement in a direction parallel with the shaft; means to normally yieldingly maintain the cap applying means in inoperative position, said cap applying means being movable against said yielding means to apply a cap to a receptacle during a portion of the rotative movement of the shaft by Huid pressure; and means to feed caps to said cap applying means at a predetermined point in the rotative movement thereof.

16. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a standard; a vertical shaft adapted to be supported in fixed position and to have axial adjustment in the standard; a hollow shaft rotatable on the fixed shaft; an annular member having threaded connection with the hollow shaft and rotatably supported on the standard; means to rotate said member independently of the hollow shaft to longitudinally adjust the latter; a receptacle carrying platform rotatable with the hollow shaft and relative to which platform the hollow shaft is longitudinally adjustable; a cylinder carried by said hollow shaft with the axis parallel with the axis of the shaft and having a port in the top; a reciprocable piston in said cylinder carrying cap applying devices by a part projecting rom the bottom of the cylinder; yielding means to normally maintain the piston in its upper position; means to feed caps to the cap applying devices at a predetermined point in the rotative movement thereof; a head carried by the fixed shaft superposed' to the cylinder having a port connected to a source of fluid pressure and with which port the cylinder port is placed into communication at a predetermined point in the rotative movement of the cylinder to move the piston in cap applying direction against the action of said yielding means; and an exhaust port in said head through which to exhaust the fluid pressure from the cylinder during a predetermmed portion of the rotative movement of the cylinder through the movement of the piston imparted thereto by the yielding means.

17. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a rotatably supported c linder in the cylinder carrying capping devices; a head having a pair of ports and relative to which head the ylinder is rotatable and the cylinder port a apted to be successively and alternately placed in communication with the head ports to supply the motive actuating fluid to the cylinder throughone head ort and exhaust said fluid from the cylinc er through the other port; a fluidreservoir with which the ports of the hea-d are in communication; and means interposed in the connection ofthe reservoir with the inlet port of the head to deliver fluid under pressure to said port and maintain the delivered fluid at a predetermined pressure for the purpose specified.

18. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a rotatably supported cylinder having a port; a piston reciprocable in the cylinder carrying capping devices; a head having a pair ofl ports and relative to which the cylinder is rotatable and the cylinder port adapted to be successively and alternately placed in communication with the head ports to supply the motive actuating fluid to the cylinder and exhaust the same therefrom; a fluid reservoir with which the ports of the head are in connection; a pump in the connection of the reservoir with the inlet port of the head to forcibly deliver the fluid to the cylinder and actuate the piston; and a regulator to maintain the fluid delivered by the pump at Va predetermined pressure. y

19. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a rotatably supported cylinder having a port; a piston to reciprocate in the, cylinder carrying capping dehaving a port; a piston reciproca le v vices; a head havinga pair of ports and relative to which head the cylinder is rotatable to place the cylinder port successively'w with the head ports to supply the 'motive actuating fluid to the cylinder to actuate the piston and to exhaust the fluid from the cylinder; a fluid reservoir connected in fluid circulation with the head ports; a pump in the connection of the reservoir with the inlet port of the head yto deliver the motive actuating fluid to the cylinder under pressure; a valve in the connection of the pump with the reservoir to normally shut ofl" communication between the pump and reservoir and ada ted to be opened by the pressure of the fluid delivered by the pump to by pass the fluid from the pump to the reservoir to maintain the fluid delivered by the pump at a predetermined pressure.

20. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a rotatably supported cylinder. having a port; a piston reciprocable 1n sald cylinder having a part projecting from the cylinder carrying cap applying devices normally yieldingly urged to inoperative position; a platform to sup ort receptacles during the capping operatlon rotatable with the cylinder; a fixed head having a fluid (pressure inlet port and an exhaust port an with which ports the cylinder port y is alternately placed into communication; a

fluid reservoir to' which the, exhaust port 'of the head is connected; and means to deliver the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid pressure port of the head under pressure and maintain such fluid at a predetermined pressure.

2l. In receptacle capping apparatus, the combination of a rotatably supported cylinder'having a port; a piston reciprocable in saidV cylinder having a part projecting from lthe cylinder carrying cap applying devices normally urged to inoperative position; a support for receptacles during the cap applying operation rotatable with the cylinder; a fixed head having a fluid pressure inlet port and an exhaust port and with which ports the cylinder port is alternately and successively placed into communication; a fluid reservoir to which the exhaust port of the head is connected; means to deliver the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid pressure port of the head under pressure; and means in the connection of said fluid delivering means and the fluid pressure port in the head to maintain the fluid delivered to said port at a predetermined pressure.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York this 26th day of January, 1918.

ROBERT G. CLARK.

and alternately in communication 

